Philanthropist leaves $28 million to Family Matters

WASHINGTON (AP) – A Washington philanthropist has left $28 million to one of the oldest social service charities in the nation’s capital.

Family Matters of Greater Washington is announcing the gift Wednesday from Richard A. Herman. The charity was previously known as Family and Child Services of Washington.

Herman died in November a few months after his 100th birthday. He was a Washington native who trained as an architect and inherited wealth from his father, who was chief engineer of Southern Railway, now Norfolk Southern Corp.

Family Matters was founded in 1882 and provides a range of services, including mental health counseling and child welfare. The charity says Herman began donating $25 a year in 1967, increasing his giving over time.